CBP seizes 300 pounds of drugs

IMPERIAL COUNTY — Approximately 300 pounds of narcotics were seized this weekend by Customs and Border Protection officers in several separate incidents at the Andrade and Calexico ports of entry.

The first seizure occurred at about 4:15 p.m. Friday at the Calexico east port of entry, where CBP officers allegedly discovered 34 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle.

Hector Cardenas-Medina, 18, was booked into county jail in connection to the incident.

At about 5 p.m. Friday at the Andrade port of entry, CBP officers allegedly discovered 108 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in various locations throughout a vehicle’s doors, gas tank and spare tire.

Charles W. Lewis, 81, of Yuma, was booked into county jail in connection to the incident. The narcotics had a street value of approximately $270,000, CBP reported.

The following day at about 3:20 p.m., Andrade port officers allegedly found 35 wrapped packages of methamphetamine and 26 packages of cocaine concealed inside a non-factory compartment in the cargo area of a vehicle.

The weight of the narcotics was 47 pounds of methamphetamine and 69 pounds of cocaine, which had a combined estimated street value of $892,500, the CBP reported.

Jesus Torres Lomeli, a resident of Los Algodones, Baja California, was arrested for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

Shortly afterward, CBP officers at the Andrade port allegedly discovered about 47 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle driven by a San Luis Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, resident who was traveling with her 13-year-old son, federal court records stated.

Angela Lopez-Murillo was booked into county jail in connection to the incident.

Also on Saturday, CBP officers at the downtown Calexico port of entry arrested Miguel Angel Robles Martinez, after allegedly discovering 2.6 pounds of meth taped to his thighs during a secondary inspection, court records stated.

Lastly, downtown Calexico CBP officers at about 10 p.m. Saturday referred a 44-year-old male U.S. citizen driving a vehicle to secondary inspection, where the port’s imaging system and a canine team led to the alleged discovery of 54 pounds of methamphetamine.

The narcotics reportedly had a street value of approximately $135,000, CBP reported.

Yldefonso Rodriguez, of Los Angeles, was booked into county jail in connection to the incident.

All suspects were turned over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigation agents for further processing before being transported to the county Jail where they currently await arraignment.

CBP seized the narcotics and vehicles.